Rich,A _LOT_ of what you asked is a matter of taste - do like Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, a mix, etc?

It also depends on what you need to do, and what is in your area

I would have:Dual Band VHF/UHF with V/V, U/U and V/U capability at the drivers position - and either a 2nd rig or that rig setup for APRS

In the back - at least 2 dual band VHF/UHF rigs for voice, another rig for your local packet setup. A PC (read laptop) for the packet station. A 6m FM rig, and a HF rig (which may also act as a second 6m rig)

ALL stations should have GANGED headphone jacks with independant volume controls (so that more than one person can listen)

There would be an ATU for the HF rig, and there would be an antenna switch -one for the truck mounted HF rig, one going to a bulkhead connector that goes through the truck wall (in a covered compartment) - this is where you hook up your coax to go to external antennas - be it wire, or a beam on a mast etc

LIGHTING is important - both inside, and OUTSIDE - be able to light the entryways and surrounding areas

Dual batteries are a must - setup as a "house" power system, and the starting system. The truck should have a generator. It should also have a way to hook to "shore" power - aka plug in the truck to the wall - you should be able to plug in the truck and run the radios, and at the same time, charge the batteries. I would also love if it had a block heater (keep the engine warm) and air conditioning that can run without starting the engine - think a coleman type unit

First: This presumes that you are NOT crazy enough to run NCS from this vehicle!

A Kenwood D-700 for the driver position. This provides VHF/UHF, widebandreceive and APRS (cans the chatter about "Where are you?")

2 - Either Icom 706s or Yaesu FT-857s (NOT one each) These will supply 160M to 70CM (except 220Meg) all modes. The Icom are easier to set up than the Yaesus (I have both) but either brand will do quite well. With that said, the Yaesu will provide better transmit audio on VHF if you pull the radio from HF (with Icom you have to remember to manually turn off the speech compressor).

2 Antenna tuners. If you get Icoms, use the AT-180s. If you get the Yaesus, get LDG Z-100s PLUS the LDG Yaesu OTT interface cables.

2 KAM98s for HF data.

2 - Kenwood D-700s for voice and data. (That is three total) Saves having external TNCs and everyone will have a "single" radio to learn for VHF/UHF. Use the free Kenwood memory management software to have all three programed exactly the same (200 memory positions so there should be no problems with that - at all).

3 Comet GP-6 Dual band, gain antennas WITH each having a tripod and its own mast available.

Have a GOB of external antenna connectors (bulkhead). If you end up running three VHFs at once, the antennas need a LOT of separation.

At least four pairs of 12V deep cycle batteries with an Astron N2412-24 for each pair. Many radios will work ok on 12V but don't develop full output with less than 13V. The Astrons provide regulated 13.8 volt output from 24V input (that's why batteries in pairs).

100 Anderson PowerPole 30 Amp connectors. By the time you get everything connected and have it so things can be moved when you need to, you will use almost all of those.

200 feet of RG-8X so you can get the HF NVIS antennas away from the vehicle. (2 at 100 feet each)

300 feet of RG-213 or better. Make four cables (2 at 100 feet and 2 at 50 feet) to get the VHF/UHF antennas away from the vehicle.

3 Alinco DM-330MV power supplies. These are 30 amp units and perform quite well when you have commercial power available.

7 Power Panel 8 (Saratoga Amateur Radio Products) for the 12V powerdistribution. (four for battery and three for power supplies)

Assuming that this is a vehicle sanctioned by your local Office of Emergency Management, don't forget to include an operator position that has the capability to operate on all of the appropriate public safety frequencies used in your area. Note that these radios are not Amateur radio ones with the CAP/MARS modification, but the appropriate FCC Certified commercial radios used in the area. Obviously, operation here would be under the fleet license issued to the appropriate agenies and only in an emergency.

Our County EOC radio room has one UHF, 2 VHF-High and and 2 VHF-Lo Uniden 100 channel public service radios programmed with every police, fire and public works frequency used within the county. We also have a computer to quickly reprogram them to new frequencies if necessary in an emergency. Normally these are used as glorified scanners, but during the recent Delaware river floods we were able to link the Deputy Sherrif in the EOC directly to his incident commander's walkie talkie handling the evacuations on scene. The EOC operations folks were very impressed.

Flexibility is a good thing in an emergency. We always strive to be the "Emergency Communications Experts" and not just the Ham radio operators. Amateur Radio gains a lot of credibility as a result.

W4EOT, the communications trailer thatoperates with Wake County ARES*/RACES,has a HF position with a ICOM-725 and a R-71A receiver (muted when transmitting)for monitoring another frequency.It has seperate 2 Meter and 70 cm radiosin the next position. The supv positionhas 2 meter packet, marine VHF radio,Air Band radio, a RT-524A (for use on 53.30for RACES comms with National Guard)and a SB-22 SB for settingup a landline system. The HF and VHFpositions each have TA-312s and the supvposition has the TA-312 with the add onDTMF dialing for use on telco system ifavailable. Antennas on roof for the VHF/UHF comms and a 12 feet whip forthe HF Receiver and a 16 feet whip forHF Tx/Rx. Also, a mast on the tongue forraising HF wire antennas. There areseveral wire antennas for mounting on othersupports, a military NVIS antenna anda 292 antenna for the RT-524 in case neededfor longer range that the whip.

There are extra PSs with power polesfor other equipment that might be needed.

As this thread goes forward, I would like to offer a resource to a company that manufactures command vehicles. I am not suggesting you shouldn't bid for these services, but I will offer some knowledge of the founder and the staff.

North American Catastrophe Services in Melbourne, Fl produces some of the finest command vehicles in the country. Founded by Mike Ferrall, the company has produced vehicles for Insurance applications, communications vehicles for DC, NY and several other communities. Mike and I have know each other for more than 20 years when we served in the Submarine Service together. When Mike retired from the US Navy he founded NACS, and hasn't looked back.

Technically these vehicles offer state of the art features such as servers, networking, ACU-1000, satellite internet/voip and the integration of any kind of RF device you may desire. Mike has a couple Hams on staff that can ensure the needs of the amateur community are addressed during the design phase. Mike produces a quality product at fair prices, and will work with you to get as much for your dollars as possible.

I don't have any ties to this company; I only offer this information as a resource to anyone looking to procure this kind of vehicle for their communities. Rick Aldom - W7STS - EC Maricopa County, AZ

As you saw above, I recommended Ham gear - BUT that was for one reason only - field fexability. I would want at least ONE ham radio besides the HF gear - Other than that, I do agree commercial gear rocks - particularly if you go with the "newer" era stuff that can be programmed with a PC (even if it needs a rib).

I'm a 'GE guy' not a 'Bat wing" guy, but that's a matter of taste plus knowing a GE tech

In GE - you can get a RIB for the NEWER delta-sx and Rangr (nice rigs - limited channels - can be very high power), and just about any rig newer than that - MVS,MDX,Orion (want a pair of these) or Jaguar

Also, if you get a Rangr/Delta with a S-825 control head they can be RIB programed

The Old Phoenix needs a programmer, and the old MastrII is "rock bound" so unless you need NO frequncey flexability, or you have a friendly GE dealer who is still willing to work on one....

I just built an RV for our local EOC/RACES. We were given a 45' Bounder motorhome, and this has made a great mobile command post/first aid station. I removed the bedroom in the back, and built a wraparound counter for the ops. We have commercial VHF, UHF, 800MHz, 2 meters, a mobile repeater with 2 dozen HT's for field use, two laptops with wireless internet, and digital phone service, not to mention a satellite link with the National Weather Service. In the kitchen area, we have a full first aid/BLS station setup. It still provides comfortable sleeping for 4, and all kitchen and bathroom facilities are fully functional.

If you feel that you must go hogwild with all the HF stuff, tuners, antennas, dipoles, pushup poles, etc., that is up to you. In a real emergency, you simply don't have time for all of that. In the event of an emergency, we just turn the key, and are online and ready to serve.

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